Heat exchanger



June 24, 1930. J. HEIZMANN 1,767,794

' HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvzrv'rog JfILE SHEIZ MANN 3' 4 AT Tb Rm! Y June 24, 1930. J. HEIZMANN 119761794 HEATEXCHANGER Filed March 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOK JULES IZMAHN II ATTORNEY June 24, 1930. J. HEIZMANN 1,767,794

HEAT EXCHANG'ER 7 Filed March 31, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 3 o ZV IANNPatented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

JULES HEIZMANN, 0F STRASBOURG, FRANCE I HEAT EXCHANGER Application filedMarch-31, 1928, Serial No. 266,275, and in France February 28, 1928.

This invention relates to heat exchangers of the column type, consistingof a plurality of superposed heat exchange units with separating ringsbetween them and transversecirculation tubes for the heating or coolingmedium, running at right an les to the direction of flow of the otherfluid in the units, and external connections between the exchange units,to permit the liquid under The object of my present invention is toprovide means by which any modification in the circulation within theexchange units is 1 made possible without disassembling the column ormaking changes in the units themselves, said changes or modifications inthe circulation being obtained by -merely changing the externalconnections between the successive exchangeunits of the column. To thisend I'use exchange units in the form of fiat boxes having a number oftransverse circulation tubes running across them and I providepartitions within the units, extending from one side to the other, usingthe transverse tubes to form parts of said partitions, so that each unitis divided into a number of chambers or compartments which areindependent from each other, each chamber or compartment having anindividual inlet and an individual outlet for the liquid circulatingtherein;- and I further provide external connections between saidchambers or compartments, which are in the form of one-way or multi-wayunions or branches of such shape and size that by the combination ofunions of different shapes, or by merely changing the position of aunionfor instance from the horizontal to the vertical position or to aninverted position,any desired changes in the circulation of the. liquidthrough the columnmay be obtained. In the accompanying drawings:

prior United States Patent No. 784,262 of v the exchange element's.

To simphfy the description, it will be assumed that the columnillustrated is intended for the exchange of heat between two liquids,the one to be cooled circulating in the interior of the exchangeelements around the transverse tubes 11, and the cooling liquid insidethe said tubes.

.6 with an overflow 7 connected to the base 1 by tie rods 8. The ring 6could terminate in a dome 9 with a branch 10. r The exchange elements,one of which 1s shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4, are preferably of thekind of that described in my March 7, 1905, which element has aconsiderable exchange surface as it consists of a fiat box 3 traversedat right angles to its general plane by a large number of circulationtubes 11.

According to my present invention I form in each exchange unit a numberof partitions, preferably two partitions 12 and 13 (Fig. 2) extendingfrom one side to the other side of theunit, using some of thec1rculation tubes 11 to form parts of these partitions. Thus, each unitbecomes" divided into a number, preferably three, of chambers orcompartments a: b c (Fig. 2) independent from each other, each of themhaving an 111- 95 dividual inlet and outlet for the liqmd to be other"and are also equidistant from the in- 1 0 5 connecting together theexchange elements,

are arranged completely outside the wall WlllCh bounds the space inwhich circulates the cooling liquid.

In the working of the apparatus, the.

liquid to be cooled is admitted at the top through the inlet pipe 19,circulates in the interior of the exchange elements 3 and of their bends5, and escapes through the bottom branch 14. The cooling liquid isadmitted at the bottom of the apparatus through the branch 2, passesthrough the watertight chambers 15 and the transverse tubes 11 of theexchange elements 3 and es capes through the overflow 7 of the section 6or through the branch 10 of the dome 9.

The column thus constituted, forms a universal heat exchanger withinterchange able parts, of a height variable at will, in which can beobtained any heat exchange surfaces that may be desired and in which thecross sections of passage can be made of a eater or less size andincreased or reduce by the use of bends of various shapes shown inFigures 5 to 16. These unions or bends 'with'two, three, four or fivebranches make. it possible to change from circulation through threesections in parallel, to circulation through two sections and thenthrough a single section, or conversely.

Fi res 5 and 6 show an inlet union for clrgu ation in three parallelstreams or jets a, 0.

Figures 7 and 8 show a horizontal bend producing a change in directionfrom circulation in parallel in two adjoining sectrons m and b, tocirculation in the opposite dlrection in the section 0 of the sameelement.

. Figures 9 and 10 shown aunion for changmg the circulation from threesections a, 5, ends to a single section 0 Figures 11 and 12 shown aunion for changin the circulation from three sections a, b, an 0 to twosections 6 and c Flgures 13 and 14 shown a horizontal unon for reversingcirculation in two adjoinmg sections 01 and b.

Figures 15 and 16 show a union for changing the circulation fromparallel in two sections at. and b of an element to a single section 5It. is obvious that other combinations could be made. The bends 5 whichconnect together the exchange elements 3 could be memes the column.

The inlets and outlets of the compart:

ments of each exchange unit, as well as corresponding subjacent and.superjacent inlets or outlets, being e uidistant, it is easily understood that furt er variations of the cir-. culation in the exchangeunits may be obtained by merely changing the position of the bends orunits on the column, for instance by changing them from the horizontalposition shown on the drawings to a vertical or to an inverted position.By the combined use of the bends or units of the shapes illustrated, apractically unlimited number of changes in the'circulation within thecolumn can' be obtained.

The advantages of the invention are as follows:

Possibility of executing any repairs to the bends in the event of aleak, in the circuit containing the bends, or of changing the said bendsfor the purpose of modifying the circuits, without it being necessary tostop the circulation of the liquid in the other fluid circuit of theexchange elements; this possibility, due to the fact that the bends 5are arranged outside the column, is more particularly advantageous inthe case of a battery of several columns worked with a singlecoolingliquid, as it is sufiicient to isolate the exchange elements of thecolumn being repaired or modified, without it being necessary to stopthe working of the whole installation. It is possible by means. of bendsof various shapes, to obtain any exchange surfaces and any desiredcircuits and to increase at will the eight of the polumn by a simpleaddition of exchange elements and of separation or division rings, asall these parts are interchangeable. Finally,

the column may be used; as heater in the mineral salts industry, forinstance in the potash industry; tion of steam; as evaporation,condensation and cooling apparatus, for the treatment of mineral, vegetable and animal oils, treatment of fats, of coal derivates, in short inany industries using exchange of heat units.

The combined use of bends of diflerentshapes makes possible thetreatment in one and the same column of different fluids or liquids,each having a distinct circuit of its own. zontally and used as a heaterfor 11 uids or condenser for steam; the base is t en replaced by a dome.

What I claim is:

1. In a heat exchanger of the column type, the combination ofa series ofsuperposed exchange units, each having transas cooler for thecondensadistllllng, concentration,

The column could be arranged horiverse circulation tubes running acrossthe units, partitions inside the units extending from one side to theother side ofsame and dividing each unit into a plurality of independentchambers, some of the transverse circulation tubes forming a part ofsaid partitions, an individual inlet and an individual outlet for eachchamber, and external interchangeable unions forming connections,between the chambers of one exchange unit and also between the chambersof one unit and the'chambers of adjacent exchange units in the column. d

2. In a heat exchanger of the column type, the combination of a seriesof superposed exchange units, each having transverse circulation tubesrunning across the, units, partitions inside the units extending fromone side to the other side of sameand dividing each unit into aplurality of independent chambers, the transverse circulation tubesforming a part of said partitions, each chamber having an individualinlet and an individual outlet for the liquid under treatment, theinlets and outlets on each side of the units being equidistant from eachother and equidistant from the inlets and outlets of the adjacentexchange units above and below, and external interchangeable unionshaving corresponding equidistant inlets and outlets, said unions formingconnections :be-

tween the chambers of one unit and also between chambers of one unit andthe chambers of an adjacent unit in the column.

3. A heat exchanger of the column type,

comprising a hollow base, a branch to ad-- mit a liquid in said base, aseries of superposed exchange units, each of them consisting of a flathollow box with a plurality of circulating tubes running across the boxat right angles to its general plane, separating rings between theexchange units forming water-tight spaces between them, in communicationwith each other through the transverse circulating tubes of the units,

partitions within the exchange units for dividing the inner space ofsaid units into sections,.a ring over the exchange units at top of thecolumn, an overflow on the ring,

and multiple-branched bends connecting 1ndividual sections of oneexchange unit with each other and with individual sections of the nextunit, said multiple-branched bends.

being situated completely outside of the wall formed by the separatingrings of the column.

4. A heat exchanger of the column type comprising a hollow base, abranch to admit a liquid in said base, a series of superposed exchangeunits, each of them consisting of a fiat hollow box with a plurality ofcircu- I lating tubes running across the box at right angles to itsgenera plane, separating rings between the exchange units formingwatertight spaces between them, in communicaverse circulating tubes ofthe units, partitions within the exchange units formlng sectionstherein, a ring over the exchange unit at top of the column, an overflowon the ring, and multiple-branched bends placed outside of the wallformed by the separating rings, said bends securing anintercommunication between some sections of one unit and some sectionsof the next exchange unit.

, 5. A heat exchanger ofthe column type, comprising a hollow base, abranch to admit a liquid in said base, a series of superposed exchangeunits,- each of them consisting of a Hat hollow box with a plurality oicirculatin tubes running across the box at right ang es to its generalplane, separating rings between the exchange umts formingwatertightspaces between them, in communication with each other ,through thetransverse circulating tubes of the units, artitions within the exchangeunits formlng sections therein, a ring over the exchange unit at top ofthe column, an overcomprising a hollow base, a branch to admit a liquidin said base, a series of super-.

posed exchange units, each ofthem consisting of a flat hollow box witha' plurality of transverse circulating tubes, separating rings betweenthe exchange units forming and an outlet on said ring at the top unit.

of the column. a

7. A heat exchanger of the-column type, consisting of a superpdsition offiat hollow -watertight spaces between them, in cominterchangeableexchange units alternating with interchangeable separating rings betweensaid units, partitions dividing each unit into a plurality of sections,multiplebranched bends outside of the exchange units andtheir'separating ,rings to connect the successive unlts,and-'transverse-circutubes across .the exchange units to lating ermltcirculation of a liquid in the column in counter-current of a liquidcirculating within the exchange units.

JULES HEIZMANN.

